Word has it that Vance Joseph could be retained if Mike Kafka is named the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals franchise.
Arizona Cardinals fans breathed a huge sigh of relief back on January 9th when owner Michael Bidwill announced that the team was moving on from the previous regime. Both Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim were thanked for their efforts, but wholesale changes were badly needed.
While it’s true that Kingsbury and Keim are no longer with the Cards, another major liability from the past four seasons may be retained. Believe it or not, there’s a scenario in which defensive coordinator Vance Joseph could be back with Arizona next season.
Rumor has it that the much-maligned Joseph could remain with the Redbirds if Mike Kafka is named the organization’s next head coach. Apparently, a ton of respect exists in the building for the 50-year-old Joseph. Would Bidwill really consider making such an unpopular move?
One of the major knocks against Kafka would be his inability to bring a qualified coaching staff with him to the desert. After all, the 35-year-old has only been an NFL assistant for six years, and figures to possess a limited number of contacts. Word has it that Bidwill would basically insist that the inexperienced Kafka keep Joseph around to run the Cardinals defense.
Time has come for the Arizona Cardinals to move on from Vance Joseph
Joseph’s time with the Cards has certainly run it’s course. This past fall, the Louisiana native’s unit gave up an ugly 26.4 points per contest. Only the Chicago Bears (27.2) gave up more in 2022.
It’s almost unfathomable that the Arizona braintrust would want to retain any coach or executive that had anything to do with last season’s catastrophe. In reality, Joseph’s defensive group has been just as awful as Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” scoring attack. It makes zero sense that Bidwill would want to sit through that misery once again in 2023.
Many who follow the Cardinals were downright frightened when Joseph interviewed for the squad’s vacant head-coaching position last month. Those same individuals were jumping for joy earlier this week when they learned that Joseph was no longer in the running for the top job.
Joseph will almost certainly be gone if Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo beats out Kafka for the gig. The 56-year-old prefers a 4-3 scheme, as opposed to the 3-4 alignment that Joseph has made his bones with. Anarumo has done a magnificent job with a Bengals crew that is devoid of stars, and it would be refreshing to see what he can do with Arizona’s talented, young defenders.
There are several reasons why Cards enthusiasts should hope that the franchise steers clear of Kafka. The possibility that Joseph could be included in a package deal with the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants is just one of them.
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